Wheel



April 4, 1939. E. A. GRANGE ET AL WHEEL Filed Nov 25, 1955 ZSheets-Sheet 1 April 1939- E. A. GRANGE ET AL 4 WHEEL Filed Nov. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y l N r I 10 f 1' I? 11 12 Mil x orney Imfen'rar's.

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Erwin J. Schmidt, Chicago, 111., assignors to Allied Engineering Company,- Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application November 23, 1935, Serial No.'51,318

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to wheels, of that type set forth and claimed in the application of Erwin J. Schmidt Serial No. 700,869, filed December 4, 1933, and the application of EdwardA. Grange and said Schmidt, Serial No. 49,880, filed November 15, 1935, said Schmidt and said Grange being two of the present applicants. It is the object ,of our invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts in wheels of this type by which improved results in the production and use of the wheels may be attained.

It is one of the objects of our invention to provide an improved form of tread member made of soft or flexible rubber or other similarly functioning material and improved forms of mounting and gripping means in combination therewith and arranged so that when the tread member has been stretched or expanded circumferentially to the desired extent for its preliminary mounting on an over-sized supporting member and has then been further expanded circumferentially and compressed axially to the predetermined desired extent,the resulting mounted and gripped tread member will be of the desired final size and shape, without the necessity for any trimming or other reshaping operation on the tread material before putting the wheel into service; will be of such changed size and shape, as compared with its original size and shape, and will have the points of varying tension and compression so arranged at the different points about the wheel that the tread member will be held firmly by the mounting and gripping means for preventing any, creepage circumferentially or radially of the tread member with respect to the mounting and gripping means; and will be held supported and gripped under tension in such. manner that in the use of the completed wheel there will be no permanent distortion or displacement of the tread material in any direction even when subjected to heavy stresses, such as characterize the use of the device as one of the supporting wheels on a roller skate worn by a heavy and powerful man skating and turning corners sharply at high speed. .It is another object of our invention to provide improved arrangements of this type by virtue of which, under the hardest sort of usage, the tread member will wear uniformly about the entire periphery of the wheel without any tendency for the production of flat spots at any point thereabout.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an improved arrangement in the type of wheel aforesaid whereby the tread material will be gripped tightly and be held securely in posi- .hereinafter specifically described. That which tion and still be free to yield or flow circumferentially between the supporting and gripping flanges as may be necessary when radial compression of the tread material takes place under the weight of the skater, and will move backwardly again freely to its normal position and condition when the radial pressure is removed so as. to insure that there shall be no cumulative building up of stretching effects in any part of the tread material by reason of successive repetitions of the application and removal of radial pressure on the tread when the wheel is in service. To this end, it is one of the objects of our invention to provide an improved form of flange members by which the desired support shall be insured for the tread material and the desired grip effected thereon without danger of the parts causing any .decrease in the strength or the durability of the tread material.

-prove devices of the types described in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which we have accomplished our several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are 25 we believe to be new and desire to cover by-Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-- 4

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of our completed wheel;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the wheel of Fig. 1; I 1

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional i View through the sleeve and flanges employed in the arrangement of Fig. 2 for supporting and gripping the tread member of the wheel, the parts being shown in separated condition;

Fig. '4 is an edge elevational view-of the tread vmember in its original shape before expansion means employed for pressing the loose flange into position on the supporting member so as to compress the tread member axially and for securing the loose flange in position, the tread member,

the supporting member, the flanges, and some of the operating parts being shown in vertical section; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the parts in their position at the close of the operation of securing the loose flange in position.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, l0 indicates the tread member of our improved wheel as shown in Fig. 1, such tread member being mounted upon a supporting member II which, in the arrangement shown, is in the form of a sleeve, and end flanges I2 and I3, the flange l2 being formed integrally with the sleeve II as is best shown in Fig. 3, and the flange l3 being in the form of a washer having its opening of a size to fit snugly over the sleeve M. In the arrangement shown, the flange I3 is secured in position upon the end of the sleeve i I opposite that at which the flange I2 is mounted by means of a rolled over bead portion M of the sleeve 1 I.

In the arrangement shown, the tread member I0 is originally of a very difierent form from that of the tread member in the completed wheel, as is apparent by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 4 which are drawn upon the same scale. The tread member In is preferably molded of soft or flexible rubber of a quality comparable to that used in the treads of high-grade automobile tires and is of a hardness of from to 75 points as indicated by a Shore instrument. We prefer to' use rubber of the quality mentioned and of approximately 68 Shore hardness in our wheels for use on roller skates. As will be readily appreciated from an examination of the drawings and particularly Fig. 4, the tread member ID is in the form of a ring having a tapered opening Ill axially therethrough, the walls of the opening being tapered from a true cylindrical form by an angle of approximately 4 at each side of such cylinder. The ring is made solid in form,that is, v

with the rubber continuous and of uniform character throughout the member without any divisions between body portions at any point.

For the purposes of description, we havecon-' sidered the tread member III as being formed of four portions, a, b, c and d, formed integrally with each other and axially in end to end relation, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The outer edge face of the portion 0 isgenerally of substantially cylindrical form, while the outer edge face of the portion 12 at its left in Fig. 4 is generally tapered toward the left by an angle of approximately 13 from-cylindrical form.- Generally the tread member as a whole is tapered from about itsmiddle transverse plane, the meeting plane of the portions b and c, toward the left or same direction as the taper of the 'central opening therethrough. The outer edge faces of the portions a and dare quite sharply tapered, being positioned generally at an angle of from 31 to 32 from the transverse planes passing through the substantially parallel ends of the tread memher, the taper of portion a being in the same direction as the taper of portion b while the por- I tion (1 tapers in the opposite direction. The tread member as shown in Fig. 4 is made for use in a wheel of a certain size and shape designed for a roller skate, the dimensions as indicated on the drawings for the tread and supporting members being in correspondence with such designed purposes.

In the arrangement shown, the supporting sleeve H and the flanges I 2 and I3 are preferflange I! being formed preferably from No. 5 dead. soft cold rolled strip steel, and the part forming the flange l3 being formed from No. 2

half hard cold rolled strip steel. The inner portion of each of the flanges l2 and I3 is tapered as shown at an angle of approximately 60 from the true cylindrical form, while the outer portion of each of the flanges is tapered in the reverse direction at an angle of approximately 45 from cylindrical form. As is shown in Fig. 2, the inner portions of the flanges are tapered away from the sleeve II- and are convergently disposed with respect to each other, while the outer portions of said flanges are tapered toward the sleeve and are divergently disposed with respect to each other.

As is seen from a comparison of Figs..3 and 4,

is considerably smaller than the outside diameter of the sleeve II, the diameter of the opening being approximately thirteen-eighteenths as great as the outside diameter of the sleeve. As

the result, the tread member must be expanded and stretched in order to be placed in position upon the sleeve. For. carrying out this initial expanding and stretching operation, we employ a smooth tapered driftpin l6 having one end portion of a size and shape to fit the tapered opening l5 in the tread member and having the other end portion of a size and shape to flt inside the sleeve II, the eifective tapered portion of the driftpin varying from a diameter corresponding to the large end of the opening IS in the tread member to a diameter corresponding to the outside diameter of the sleeve I I, as shown in Fig. 5. For mounting the tread member ID upon the supporting member II, we place the sleeve II in position upon a lug I I rising from a suitable support l8, and place the larger end of the driftpin I6 in position in the upper "end of the sleeve with the tread member ill in position upon the upper or smaller end of the driftpin. A hollow pressure member i9 is then forced downwardly in contact with the flat end of the tread member l0 and the tread member .is forced into position upon the sleeve as shown in Fig. 6. This serves to expand the tread member as a whole, while at the same time reducing to some extent the thickness (radially) and width (axially) of the rubber of the ring. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the tread member necessarily is expanded more at the upper end adjacent the pressure sleeve l9- than at the lower or leading end adjacent the flange l2, as will be appreciated from the fact that the smaller end of the opening l5 has been expanded to the same size as that of the larger end of said opening. This has the effect of cutting down the degree of taper of the portion b of the tread member, such portion b as shown in Fig. 6 having been distorted into more nearly cylindrical form than as is shown in Fig. 5. By reason of the tapered form of the opening l5, the tread member is enabled to slide smoothly into position on the sleeve without objectionable frictional resistance between the lead end of the tread member and the sleeve and without any retaining substantially their normal configuration.

For compressing the tread member In axially and expanding it-additionally diametrically, an arrangement somewhat similar tothat shown in Fig. 5 is used, comprising a supporting member 20 having a seat to receive the outer face of the flange I2 and a ing 2| rising therefrom of a size to have a working fit in the sleeve I I. When it is desired to compress the tread member, the sleeve H and tread member ll thereon-are placed in position upon the support 20 and the lug 2|, and the washer I3 is placed in operative position on the upper or top end face of the tread member. A pressure sleeve 22 is then brought down'into nesting arrangement with the washer l3 and power is applied for pressing the washer downwardly into the desired operative position as shown in Fig. '7. A rotary tool 23 is then forced downwardly under heavy pressure for rolling over or pressing outwardly and downwardly the upper end of the sleeve II to form the bead l4 thereon for holding the flange IS in its operative position as shown in Fig. 8. By thisarrangement the tread member I0 is secured on the supporting member ll between the flanges l2 and I3 under pressure suflicient to prevent any creepage of the tread member circumferentially or radially relative to its holding means under the severest stresses the wheel can be put to in ordinary use and yet not great enough todamage the material forming the tread member. We have found a pressure ranging from about 300 lbs. to about 700 lbs. per sq. in. to be satisfactory. With rubber of the type mentioned above and of a Shore hardness of approximately 68 points, we prefer a pressure of approximately 500 lbs. per sq. in.

As is best indicated in Fig. 6'; the parts are made of such size and shape that the line of junction between the oppositely tapered portions of the flange l2 stands substantially oppositethe line of junction between the straight end face and the tapered edge face of the portion d of the tread member. In the same way, when the flange I3 is in position, the line of junction of its oppositely tapered portions stands substantially opposite the line marking the separation of the flat end. from the tapered edge of the portion a of the tread member. When the flange I3 is pressed downwardly intothe position shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the tread member I0 is substantially compressedaxially adjacent the sleeve l l and it is compressed to a much greater extent at the circumference corresponding to the meeting lines of the oppositely tapered portions of the respective flanges which are spaced outwardly from the sleeve. In the arrangement described, the rubber is com- .pressed at the narrowest space between the flanges to. about three-sevenths .of its normal width. The compression of the inner or mount- .ing portion of the tread member axially between therefore, is radically different from that of the tread member as originally formed and before being mounted in place.

By the use of our invention by which the opening through the tread member is given a tapered form and by which the edge portions of the member are given a predetermined differential form:

and shape all by producing inexpensively the member in a mold having a cavity of the shape of the tread member shown in Fig. 4, we are enabled to produce a wheel substantially symmetrical, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 of such form, shape and arrangement that it is suitable for commercial use as it comes from the press and without any trimming or other costly reshaping operations, which, it will be appreciated, is a matter of tremendous importance in the manufacture of an article used in such great quantities as wheels of the kind and type in question.

By the use of our improved arrangement of parts making up the wheel and the means for producing the wheel according to our invention, we have produced a structure in which the tread member is held securely in position by the combination of stresses and compressive forces. The tread member is held strongly against movement circumferentially with respect to the sleeve II and against movement radially outwardly with respect to the flanges l2 and I 3. The outer tapered or divergent portions of the flanges serve as supports for holdingthe outer, exposed free portion of the tread member against undue movement transversely. Notwithstanding the secure mounting of the tread member with respect to undesired movements, the tread member is free .to yield inwardly without the necessity for the application of great pressure for effecting such yielding movement. By reason of the tread member being gripped and held in position by the use wheels, the skater is effectively cushioned against shocks'and .jolts to which the wheels of the skate are subjected when the skates pass over uneven or rough surfaces. The wheels take a velvet-like grip upon the skating surface even when such surface is quite smooth, no appreciable slippage of the wheels on the skating surface taking place due to the skater turning sharp comers at high speeds or making quick stops. Our improved wheels operate silently, the wheels in rolling contact with a sidewalk or other skating surface under all ordinary skating conditions creating no noticeable sound. The life of our improved wheel under severe service conditions has been found to be many times greater than that of the ordinary type of steel skate wheel operating under less severe conditions.

Whilewe have illustrated in detail, and have specifically described a. wheel of a certain construction and of a certain size for use in particular on roller skates, it is to be understood that such has been done merely for the purposes of illustrating the principles of our invention and teaching those skilled in the art how to produce, according to our invention, wheels for widely different uses and differing materially in shape and size. We wish it to be understood also that our invention is not limited to the particular arrangements illustrated and described as we recognize that changes may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention.

body throughout mounted on said supporting membr between said flanges and heldby said flanges in substantially compressed condition axially thereby being materially changed in shape from its original shape.

2. A wheel for roller skates and the like comprising in combination a supporting member,

- flanges secured at opposite ends of said supporting member and extending outwardly therefrom, the inner portions of said flanges being outwardly convergently disposed at angles approximately 60 from the longitudinal axis of the supporting member and the outer portions of said flanges being outwardly divergently disposed at angles approximately from said axis, and a tread member of soft-rubber-like material mounted on said supporting member between said flanges and held by the flanges in substantially compressed condition axially thereby being materially changed in shape from its original shape.

3. A wheel for roller skates and the like com; prising in combination a supporting member, flanges secured at opposite ends of said supporting memberand extending outwardly therefrom, the inner portions of said flanges being outwardly .convergent and the outer portions thereof being outwardly divergent, and a tread member of rub.- ber-like material of a Shore hardness ranging from about to about points mounted on said supporting member between said flanges and held by the flanges in substantially compressed conv dition axially thereby being materially changed in shape from its original shape.

4. A wheel for roller skates and the like comprising in combination a supporting member, flanges secured at opposite ends of said supporting member andextending outwardly therefrom, the inner portions of said flanges being outwardly convergently disposed at angles approximately 60 from the longitudinal axis of the supporting member and the outer portions of said flanges being outwardly divergently disposed at angles approximately 45 from said axis, and a tread member of rubber-like material of approximately 68 point Shore hardness and having substantially parallel end faces mounted on said supporting member between said flanges and held compressed axially by said flanges into a space the width of which at its narrowest point between the flanges is approximately three-sevenths of the distance from one end face to the other end face of the tread member when unrestrained.

5. A wheel for roller skates and'the like comprising in combination a substantially cylindrical supporting member, flanges secured at opposite ends of said supporting member and extending outwardly therefrom, the inner portions of said flanges being outwardly convergent and the outer portions thereof being outwardly divergent, and a circular tread member of soft rubber-like material having a central opening therethrough of substantially thirteen-eighteenths as great diameter normally as the outside diameter of the supporting member mounted in stretched condition on the supporting member between said flanges and held by the flanges in substantially compressed condition axially thereby being ma.- terially changed in shape from its original shape.

6. A wheel for roller skates and the like comprising in combination a supporting member, flanges secured at opposite ends of said supporting member and extending outwardly therefrom,

. the inner portions of said flanges being outwardly convergent and the outer portions thereof being outwardly divergent, and a tread member of soft rubber-like material having a solid-continuous body throughout mounted on said supporting member between said flanges substantially expanded diametrically and substantially compressed axially thereby being materially changed a in shape from its original shape, said tread member being of such predetermined shape and size that upon being secured in place the tread of the wheel is substantially symmetrical and ready for commercial use.

EDWARD A. GRANGE. ALEXANDER F. KAP'I'ULLER. ERWIN J. SCHMIDT. 

